The Red Cross and Red Crescent workers
have been working around the clock to render relief to the tens of millions
flood victims in South Asia since international appeals were launched by
the International Red Cross to raise HK$61.6 million for 1.5 million flood
affected victims in India, Nepal and Bangladesh.

With efforts of local fundraising, the
Nepal Red Cross Society has already distributed over 18,000 family packs,
dried food and water purification …

The Netherlands is to release €1.5 million
to assist Bangladesh, where flooding has led to food shortages in large
parts of the country. During the next six months, the money will be spent
via the World Food Programme to feed the most vulnerable groups such as
women and children. Since flooding is a structural problem in Bangladesh,
the Netherlands is also assisting the country with development programmes
for sea defences and water management.

In July, heavy monsoon rains led to major
flooding over large areas of Bangladesh. Damage assessments, including
one undertaken on behalf of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA), suggest that more than 33 million people have been affected,
with almost one million dwellings destroyed and some 4 million inhabitants
permanently or temporarily displaced. More than 2 million acres of agricultural
land have been have been submerged and countless crops destroyed.

Gareth Thomas (the UK minister for International
Development) has today announced that the UK is providing an additional
£15 million for the post-flood rehabilitation programme in Bangladesh,
to support the Government of Bangladesh's significant on-going relief
and rehabilitation work.

Bangladesh YMCA was deeply moved by the
immediate response of nearly 20 YMCA movements to the urgent appeal of
27 July from the World Alliance to fund the relief work of the YMCA of
Bangladesh for families affected by the catastrophic flooding in the country.
The numerous letters and financial support pledged showed the real solidarity
of the global YMCA Movement.

A full month after large areas of Bangladesh
were flooded, some rural communities are still in desperate need of assistance.
The Salvation Army is working in one such place -- Bhairab Upazila, located
in the area where three rivers meet to form the large Meghna River.

Mark Malloch Brown, the Administrator of
the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is visiting Bangladesh
this week, meeting with leaders, and observing relief and recovery efforts
following the recent flooding. Malloch Brown praised government efforts
to overcome losses caused by the flood. To bolster these efforts, UNDP
and the World Food Programme are distributing food, hygiene kits, soap
and clothes through national and international non-governmental organizations,
funded by the UK Department for International Development.

The worst storm on the Gulf Coast of
Florida in 100 years, Hurricane Charley left a tumbled swath of splintered
wood and twisted metal-the destroyed homes, churches, and commercial buildings
of south Florida residents. Power outages are common, and in some areas
the rule of martial law is preventing access to areas considered unsafe.
UMCOR workers were in Florida as of Monday, August 16, to assess damage
and coordinate initial response.

Westport, CT (August 18)--Millions
of children still need assistance in Bangladesh as the nation recovers
from severe flooding that has left hundreds of thousands of families in
need of food, shelter, clean water and health services.

More than 700 people in Bangladesh have
died from the flooding that submerged two-thirds of the country and left
10 million people homeless.

DHAKA, 18 August 2004 - Falling
water levels after some of the worst floods in the history of Bangladesh
have allowed better access to affected populations. After a two day visit
to three areas, Sylhet, Sunamganj and Brahmanbaria, UNICEF Representative
Morten Giersing said the children he saw were clearly badly affected, showing
visible signs of suffering from Vitamin B deficiency and living in makeshift
shelters around their former homes.

In Bangladesh, over 36 million people continue
to be affected by the recent flooding and more than 6 million people still
require immediate relief. Christian Aid is supporting local partner organisations
to help communities cope with the aftermath of the floods and to rebuild
their lives.

As the floodwaters recede, the scale
of the disaster is becoming clearer.

Six million people are living in makeshift
shelters, their homes destroyed.

Light to moderate rainfall at a few places
over the Brahmaputra, the Ganges & the South Eastern Hill basin and
light to moderately heavy fall over the Meghna basin has been recorded
during the last 24 hours ending at 9 A.M. today. Significant rainfall was
recorded 42.0 at Kanaighat, 40.0 mm at Sunamganj and 33.0 mm at Sylhet
during the same period.

GENERAL RIVER CONDITION

The Brahmaputra-Jamuna continued to fall
at all points. The Ganges-Padma observed rise at upstream points while
it receded slightly at down stream points.

A new report urges top humanitarian
groups to create a more-local presence in disaster-prone areas - a change
from the current firefighting mentality.

By Sophie Arie | Correspondent of
The Christian Science Monitor

ROME -- Much of the developing
world is facing crises of biblical proportions - floods, droughts, even
locusts. But in the post-9/11 era, these disasters pose new problems. Many
fail to capture the attention of a West preoccupied with terrorism. Others
are complicated by the nexus of humanitarianism and politics.

Hepatitis E is now among the major health
concerns in Darfur. Between 22 May and 30 July 2004, a total of 625 cases
and 22 deaths from acute jaundice syndrome were reported from health clinics
in Darfur. Cases were identified through the early warning alert and response
system (EWAR).

Light rainfall at a few places over the
Brahmaputra & in the South Eastern Hill basin, Light to moderate rainfall
at many places over the Ganges & in the Meghna basin has been recorded
during the last 24 hours ending at 9 A.M. today. Significant rainfall was
recorded 30.0 at Kanaighat, 28.0 mm at Durgapur, 25.0 mm at Sunamganj and
13.6 mm at Mohadevpur during the same period.

GENERAL RIVER CONDITION

The Brahmaputra-Jamuna continued to fall
at all points. The Ganges-Padma observed rise at upstream points while
it receded at down stream points.

Flood waters in Bangladesh are receding
after the worst floods for six years covered more than half the country
in July, but the devastation continues.

More than three million homes have been
destroyed and a million hectares of rice have been lost. About a quarter
of a million people are still living in temporary accommodation such as
schools and community centres.